The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-05
CLEvELAND's OBsTINACY.

How He Was Forced to Appear at the Capitoi
and Assist in Transacting Business.
Special to the INDIANAPOLIS Journal.
WAsHINGToN, March 4.-There came near De-
ing a serious ruction at the Capitol just before
Congress adjourned. The usual committees
were appointed in each house to wait upon the
President to notify him that Congress was ready
to adjourn and awaited his pleasure for further
communications. The members Of the commit
tee on the part Of the Senate were Messrs Sner-
man and Salisbury, and on the part OF the
House Messrs. Morrison, Tucker and Reed The
President had steadily refused to accept the ad-
vice of friends and go to the Capitol, as has been
customary with chief executives in the past, so
as to be in position to handle measures as they
passed Congress up to the last moment OF the
session. He did this for the purpose of teaching
Congress lesson in business expediency he
said, as he did not believe in the practice of
holding back bills for final action till the last
moment with view to escaping the scrutiny OF
the President Besides he said, the Presidents
Office was at the White House, and measures re-
quiring his signature should be sent there, and
sent early enough for his deliberate action in 9TH
er words he held that Congress should conform
to the convenience of the President instead Of
the reverse 1t was shortly after IL o'clock when
the congressional committee got together for the
purpose Of waiting upon the President, aud in
quiry was made by the members whether Mr..
Cleveland had yet arrived at the Capitol, and
whether he was in his room adjoining the Sen
ate, which was very many years ago set aside
for the work of the President on the last day of
| the session of Congress. A negative reply was
co6 hat
| ident Cleveland should ignore this custom and
courtesy to Congress, as it is convenience to
| that body. Bills passed after the beginning of
the last ten days of the session must receive the
| signature of the President or they die; whereas,
| those passed prior TO that time may become laws
| without the signature of the President by virtue
of constitutional provision; it can be readily
| seen there is great necessity for the President
to be close at hand that he may sign bills up to
| the last minute Congress is in session. When
| the committee was informed that President
! Cleveland had refused to visit the Capitol and
sternly protested that it was the duty of Con
| gress to cater to his convenience there were
uttered words not only of disapproval. but con-
tempt. Then it was proposed that the commit
| tee sit down and write report to the two
| Houses, to the effect that it had called at the
room set apart for the occupancy of the Presi-
dent on the last day of the session of Congress,
and that it had not found his Excellency in, and
that it had no report to convey from him. This
| was agreed to unanimously. the Dem ocratic
| members Of the committee agreeing with the
! Republicans that Mr.. Cleveland had acted con-
temptuously in refusing to do what all Presi-
dents, from George Washington down to and
including Arthur. had done. Promptly this re-
port was conveyed to the President pro tempore
of the Senate and the Speaker of the House,
and although it was not announced, it soon be-
came noised about and created great deal OF
excitement. Instantly kilograms were sent to
the hite House by Speaker Carlisle and Senator
Harris, informing the President of the action Of
the committees and advising him to come to the
Capitol. 1t was then after half past II o'clock.
Presently dispatch was received from the ex
ecutive mansion, to the effect that Mr. Cleve
land was on his way to the Capitol. When he
arrived, there were number of enrolled bills
lying on the table in his room, and before he had
examined them it IL o'clock. Quietly the
hour hands on the clocks in the two houses were
turned back to permit the completion of bust
ness. Again the hour hands were shading r.
and the committee was not ready to report from
the President, and again the hour hands were
turned back. Finally the President refused tc
delay adjournment longer, and informed the
committee it could report no further commun
cations from him, and. drawing On his grea,
coat left hastily for the White House; but hs
left to die miserable and dsgraceful death
number Of meritorious measures for which
the members of both parties had worked
long aud faithfully, and in which
the entire county was interested. Intense in
dignation was expressed on every hand at the
action Of the President. He should have gone
to the Capitol last night and remained al
night if necessary, to attend to the work fol
him to do. But instead he remained up at thu
executive mansion, and two carriages were re
quired to carry clerks back and forth will
measures requiring his signature. More thar
that, two three extra clerks had to be en-
listed for the purpose, and it rained ant
showed. and was as disagreeable as could be fo
that enormous amount Of extra and unnecessary
travel
It is improbable that such sorry scene wa
ever presented by any legislative body as .ha
witnessed in the House at 10 o'clock this morn
ing. Paper, and tobacco quids, and stubs O
: cigars, and other filth covered the carpet 81
completely that one could not discover th,
color of that article. The members had been u,
continuously for almost forty eight hours. an,
were soreheaded sleepy ana uncharitable
The Speaker, anticipating a stampede, ha,
posted trusted sentinel twenty feet in front o
, his desk to assist in the event Of an emergency
Springer. Holman and Curtin were designate
: : for this purpose. and one of them occupied
chair at tho head Of the center aisle in the semi
circle in front Of the Speaker all the time